MOTIVATION

Planning for Your Success

Do you need to set goals? How can it help performance?
How important is success and improvement to you? Many students achieve some success without
using formal goal setting, but virtually every person who consistently succeeds uses some form of
goal setting. Using goal setting is as necessary as having a coach.
Like a good coach, good goal setting gives a person an “edge” in three areas:

 Direction – Goals tell the person where they need to go and how to get there.
 Feedback – Goals tell the person when they are making progress.
 Support – Goals keep the person going when they might otherwise give up.

Developing Goals:

Have you set S.M.A.R.T. goals

S = Specific: State how and when they will achieve the goal
M = Meaningful: Make sure it is a goal that is of value to them
A = Achievable: With effort, it is a goal that can be achieved
R = Relevant: Why is accomplishing this goal important to you?
T = Task-oriented/Timely: The goal should tell them what they need to do

Suggestions on how to set beneficial goals

 Have a goal for the season and a goal for each practice. Most persons set only long-term goals; think
about daily and weekly goals as well.
 Have you write down a seasonal goal so they see it everyday – on water bottles, bedroom mirrors,
in their bags, etc.

 Focus on the little thing!

Long-term Goals – 10 years – What would they like to accomplish with their skating?
Short-term Goals – 1-5 years – Where do they see themselves in five years?
Immediate Goals – six months to a year – What do they want to accomplish this season?